Coat of arms

An arrangement of shapes and figures ? called bearings ? usually depicted on and around a shield, that indicates ancestry and distinctions. In heraldic terms, this is also termed a "complete achievement." Heraldry governs the terms used to describe bearings and their arrangement in coats of arms. Completely describing a coat of arms in heraldic terms is called blazoning.Examples: Albrecht D?rer (German, 1471-1523), The D?rer Coat of Arms, 1524, engraving. D?rer's monogram can be seen at the top center of this design. See Northern Renaissance.